10 Best Laptop for Overwatch ($700-$2200)

To play Overwatch, you need a big screen and powerful computer system because you can’t find a best laptop for Overwatch to be playable at all.

This might have been true in 2016, however in 2018, even with a budget of $700 you can find legit laptops that can run Overwatch at Ultra Settings and offer consistent frame rates of 60FPS.

Many people have asked me:

Can you play Overwatch on a Laptop?

Or

What Laptops can run Overwatch?

So this article is my response to all of those people!

Overwatch is considered one of the greatest games of all time, developed by Blizzard Entertainment, it made them over $1 Billion in revenue in 2016. However, over the period of 2 years, the game has received persistent updates that include addition of new characters, maps and modes. You can learn about all its update by clicking here.

Overwatch is a high-quality video game that requires a powerful system to play the game at its best. Though Blizzard Entertainment has optimized the game to be playable on an average computer system, however, it greatly affects factors like texture quality, model details, shadow details, lighting and other factors mentioned here that influence the overall experience of the game.

Hence for you to get the utmost experience, we have listed Top 10 Best Laptop for Overwatch within $700-$2200.

Crucial Requirements for Laptops that Can Run Overwatch

Should I get Intel i5 or Intel i7 for playing Overwatch?

The above-posted System Requirements for Overwatchoriginated in 2016, which means they considered the Core i5 processor launched in 2016 in the recommended section.

Comparing the 8th gen i5 processor with 6th gen i5 processor, then the Intel Core i5-8300H is almost 40-50% faster than the older Intel Core i5-6300HQ.

Hence if you’re wondering can an i5 processor run Overwatch; then don’t fret and get the Intel i5 8th generation processor based laptop, however, if you want top-notch performance then getting the Intel i7 is no brainer.

Though avoid buying any processor labeled ‘U’ in the model name, for e.g., Intel Core i5-8250U or the Intel Core i7-8550U because they happen to be low powered CPUs and not meant for Gaming purpose.

Pricing is another concern when you’re considering either Core i5 or i7 processor.

Top-of-the-line Intel Core i7-8750H processor coupled with Nvidia GTX 1050Ti 4GB DDR5 based laptop like this one starts from $1000, whereas one with Intel Core i5-8300H and similar GPU cost between $700-$800.

NOTE: Laptop prices are dynamic and change on daily basis, hence take the pricing mention in this article with a pinch of salt!

Powerful GPU for Higher Frame Rates

Graphics Card meant for laptops are slightly under-powered compared to their desktop counterparts, however, according to userbenchmark.com, there’s only 4-8% difference when comparing the Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti with the GTX 1050 Ti Mobile GPU.

But if you compare the laptop and desktop counterparts of Nvidia GTX 1060 and Nvidia GTX 1070, then the difference is quite significant.

Laptop GPUs are under-powered to prevent overheating and draw minimal power while on battery.

Comparing few GPUs below, here is the cumulative FPS you can expect when playing Overwatch in 1080p at Ultra Settings:

Now that you’ve understood the basics let’s get down to the list of laptops that can run Overwatch smoothly.

The Gigabyte Aero 15X is a complete overkill when it comes to laptops that can run Overwatch because it supersedes Overwatch Ultra Settings Requirements.

With its innards containing top-of-the-line Intel Core i7-8750H coupled with Nvidia GTX 1070 Max-Q Edition, you are bound to get over 150 FPS while playing Overwatch.

What will make playing the video game exciting is the Aero’s 144Hz display that allows smoother motion during fast-paced action.

But being a gamer, you aren’t only going to play Overwatch, are you?

Hence why; the Gigabyte Aero 15X is perfect for all your gaming needs as it can handle any game you throw at it.

On another note, gaming laptops have bad rep for sporting design that looks gaudy, however that’s not the case with the Aero 15X.

One moment you’ll be playing the most intensive games on it; whereas, the next you can be making Powerpoint Presentations without anyone giving you a strange look.

Not only is the design elegant looking, but the laptop is also light on your shoulders too. It weighs at 4.62 lbs which translate close to 2kgs, which is a feat in itself because it consists of a 94Wh battery module that manages to provide battery life of around 6-7 hours during moderate gaming sessions.

Since the battery is big, the power brick adapter is massive as well, which adds additional weight on your shoulders while you’re traveling.

Talking about display; the Aero 15X hosts a 15.6-inch Full HD 144Hz IPS Anti-Glare Display that offers brightness of 300 nits. Though what will amaze you is how slim the bezels are and one can surely call it an edge-to-edge laptop display.

For an extra $300 you can get the 4K UHD Display version too. However, if you take my suggestion, the Full HD version will suffice.

If you’re not in the mood to spend over $2K just on a laptop to play a video game, then MSI has you covered.

MSI GV62 8RD is one of the cheap laptops that can run Overwatch at Ultra Settings without any issues.

However compared to the previously mentioned Gigabyte Aero 15X, you’re locked between 60-70 FPS on this laptop because of the Intel i5-8300H processor and Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti Graphics Card that perfectly matches the requirements to play Overwatch

Being a budget gaming laptop, it is capable of playing modern games like Fortnite, PUBG, Rainbow Six Seige, DOTA 2 and Assassins Creed Origins providing frame rates between 50-60 FPS at Ultra Settings, which is ideal since it costs under $800.

Hence if you’re a student or want to upgrade from your Everyday laptop to a solid gaming laptop, the MSI GV62 8RD is your best bet.

Though the processor isn’t that powerful and comparable only to an entry-level Intel Core i3-8100 Desktop CPU; however the Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti Mobile GPU handles all the intensive gaming stuff giving you perfect bang for your buck.

But things always aren’t as good as they seem to be. To manufacture such a capable gaming laptop, MSI had to cut corners to keep it under a budget price of $800.

For instance, you get a Full HD Screen but with a TN panel that offers good viewing angles horizontally but moving the screen up and down results in massive color change. Hence you are required to keep the screen only at a fixed angle while playing games or watching movies.

In addition to that, the entire laptop is built entirely out of plastic, which doesn’t look garish but seems tacky when you start using it. Though it has a brushed metal feeling to it and the top lid is very sleek with MSI logo sitting nicely over it.

Instead of an SSD, you get a slower 1TB HDD, however, to make things faster MSI has included something called as Intel Optane Memory, which is a 16GB memory module and is touted by Intel to offer to provide SSDs like speed to HDDs. Take a look at the below video for comparison between Intel Optane Memory and HDD.

The Full-Size Keyboard is supplied by SteelSeries, and it has large 4 arrow keys which I personally appreciate, but the buttons are made of plastic with red colored rim around each key. Hence even if the backlight is off, the keyboard is going to look red.

For manufacturing gaming laptops and accessories, HP has their own separate brand called as OMEN. However, they do produce few gaming laptops under their Pavilion series too, and the CX0045NR is one of them.

The HP Pavilion 15-CX0045NR sits at a sweet spot of under $1000, which is an ideal price point for buying Budget Gaming Laptops.

Compared to the previously mentioned MSI GV62-8RD, the Pavilion 15 gaming laptop is also plastic built; however it has a better design, built quality and feel to it, which you sort of miss in the cheaper gaming laptop from MSI.

It weighs around 5.4 lbs and comes with a screen size of 15.6”, yet it has a smaller footprint compared to similarly sized laptops.

On the design front, HP has made a lot of improvement. It has angled edges towards the hinges with proportionately designed heat vents on either side. Green accented HP logo is present on the top lid that does give this laptop a serious gaming feel, whereas you can see ‘PAVILION’ branding on the outer hinge of the laptop.

Once you open the lid, you’re immediately greeted by the green accented keyboard keys that make this laptop stand out from other gaming laptops that have red accented keys.

Between the screen and keyboard, there’s diamond-triangle shaped grille that houses the speakers provided by Bang & Olufsen.

When you flip the laptop upside down, the Green theme is carried around here too, and you can see 4 rubber feet large enough to hold the laptop steady even on a slope.

Unlike the MSI GV62-8RD, the HP Pavilion 15-CX0045NR comes with 15.6” Full HD Anti Glare IPS display with thinner bezels on either side.

Additional specifications include 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM, 16GB Intel Optane Memory Module, 1TB 7200RPM Hard Disk and preinstalled Windows 10 that work together to provide a decent battery life between 6-7 hours making it the best laptop for Overwatch under $1000.

If you loved the design of the previously mentioned Gigabyte Aero 15X, but feel that it’s a bit overpriced or out of budget?

Then don’t worry as the brand has got you another laptop with ditto design yet at a lower price point; called as the Gigabyte Aero 15W.

Design wise; the Gigabyte Aero 15W is exactly similar to Gigabyte Aero 15X, yet at a lower price point it doesn’t misses on important features like:

15.6” screen in a 14-inch body length

4.62lbs of lightweight body

Metal Chassis

144Hz Pantone X-Rite Full HD Screen

5mm of very thin screen bezels

Intel Core i7-8750H 6-Core CPU

16GB RAM

512GB SSD

Large Battery of 94.24 WHr that offers upto 10 hours of battery life

Thunderbolt 3

Per Key RGB Customization and Dolby Atmos Speakers

The only major difference you will see between the 15X and 15W is the graphics card that 15W comes with.

It comes with a powerful and meaty 6GB DDR5 Nvidia GTX 1060 MaxQ Edition GPU that is capable of handling Overwatch and any other games you throw at it with ease.

The MaxQ Edition GPUs from Nvidia are similar to mobile GPUs from the brand, yet they help in keeping the laptop temperature down; while still offering maximum performance.

Additionally, the laptop is ultra slim at 0.78” at the sides; however, there are few other laptops in our list that are slimmer than Gigabyte Aero 15W, though available at a higher point.

Now a direct competition to this laptop is the new Razer Blade 15” which in itself is a fantastic laptop, but the fact that it comes with 60Hz display and a 128GB SSD as standard compared with 15W’s 144Hz display and 512GB SSD at similar price point, makes the Gigabyte Aero 15W a wiser choice.

If you are impressed by the previously mentioned Gigabyte Aero 15X but are short on budget, then the 2018 Acer Helios Predator 300 is a wise pick; which is available for almost half the price of Aero 15X.

But unlike the Aero 15X, the Helios Predator 300 (2018) has aggressive styling and doesn’t shy away from advertising itself as a bona fide gaming laptop.

The previous generation Acer Helios Predator 300 was a massive hit among consumers, hence why Acer hasn’t made any major changes to its design and carried forward the same design with upgraded hardware.

As you can see from the pictures, the laptop looks heavy, weighing at over 6 pounds it isn’t as portable compared to other laptops in our list of best laptop for Overwatch.

Considering the other two budget gaming laptops, I mentioned above; the Predator 300 comes with a metal chassis that gives it a sturdy build compared to what you get on plastic built laptops.

Most brands manufacturing gaming laptop nowadays try to go with a subdued look, however not Acer, they’ve carried their aggressive styling from previous model with major changes done in the cooling department. The GPU inside comes with dual fans, with each fans having metal fins that allow proper and faster dissipation of heat compared to plastic fans.

The GPU is an overclocked 6GB DDR5 Nvidia GTX 1060 module meant for maximum performance and is coupled with an Intel Core i7-8750H processor that makes it the best laptop to play Overwatch because it offers 120+ FPS on average at Ultra Settings.

Another thing to mention that adds delight while playing Overwatch is the 144Hz Full HD IPS Display that offers smoother transitions while playing games with little or no stutter at all.

Besides that on the hardware front, you get 16GB DDR4 2666 MHz RAM and 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD with an additional 2.5” slot to later add an SSD or HDD.

2019 with much funfair brought us the launch of RTX graphics cards for laptops. But for Overwatch, the RTX 2070 and RTX 2080 currently are an overkill; and makes no sense to invest around ~$3000 for an Overwatch Gaming Laptop.

However, Nvidia RTX 2060 is a fair choice if you are buying a new laptop for Overwatch and want one with the latest internals in the market.

No way, the (few) laptops featuring Nvidia RTX 2060 can be called cheap or even budget-friendly; yet they bring a better performance compared to its older counterpart, i.e. the Nvidia GTX 1060.

With newer architecture and specifications; the Nvidia RTX 2060 offers performance similar to GTX 1070 meant for laptops and will be a joy to play Overwatch on it.

Using the Asus ROG Strix Hero II, you can undoubtedly achieve over 150 FPS while Overwatch at Ultra Settings and 1080p resolution, which definitely makes it an overkill.

Moreover, with other modern games; you can surely expect over 100 fps at 1080p resolution and Ultra Settings.

Talking about the laptop, it comes with Asus’ renowned 4-zone lighting, which technically isn’t as cool as per-key RGB lighting, yet a lot better than single color keyboard backlit.

The touchpad on this laptop too is ideal for everyday use; however, I felt that it should have been a bit better though.

Along the bottom edge; there’s also an RGB Strip light that adds to fuzziness of this laptop; though with no practical use.

Bezels too on this is thin; however, the thinner bezels on all 3-sides make the lower bezel seems a bit too large.

On the inside, Asus offers an Intel Core i7-8750H CPU, coupled with 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD that as a combination provides excellent performance.

Additionally, the 15.6” Full HD screen offers an IPS display along with 144Hz refresh rate that makes fast-paced action on Overwatch enjoyable without ghosting.

If budget isn’t a concern and you need a laptop with top-of-the-line specification that looks unique to all the other laptops in the world, then the MSI P65 Creator is your best bet.

This laptop is geared towards content creators and professionals who work with 3D Animation, VR, AR, Photography, Video Editing and Music Editing applications; however, it’s just the MSI GS65 version painted white (not technically) and sold in a new Prestige series.

The fundamental change here is the color, though MSI has retained the Golden Accents, however, instead of an RGB backlit keyboard on the GS65, you get a white backlit keyboard which I must say is aesthetically pleasing to look at.

Having a 15.6” screen; the laptop shockingly has a smaller footprint similar to a 14” laptop. This is made possible due to the 5mm surrounding bezels, and almost no space is available below the touchpad.

Due to this size cutting, the laptop weighs only at 4.14 lbs (1.8kgs) making it easy and portable enough to carry around without breaking sweat.

Additionally, the screen has an IPS Anti-glare display and has a refresh rate of 144 Hz with 99% sRGB Color Gamut, which means you get an incredibly accurate color response that is crucial for content creators.

Not only is the laptop slim and portable, but it is also compelling and ‘the’ best laptop that can run Overwatch in our list.

It comes with an Intel Core i7-8750H processor that is coupled with an even powerful Nvidia GTX 1070 8GB DDR5 GPU, along with that you get a whopping 32 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB of SSD storage.

Hence for the price you pay; you get beast of a laptop making it the best laptop for Overwatch in our list.

Thus if you’re thinking of buying this laptop, there are very few chances of you going wrong because not only the laptop comes with powerful specifications but a rigid built quality too that will last for years to come.

In case you feel that the above mentioned MSI P65 Creator is an overkill and you need something cheaper but similar to it, then my best suggestion would be the MSI GS65 Stealth Gaming Laptop.

It is one of the best laptops that can run Overwatch without throttling a bit. For $500 cheaper you get the same bells and whistles like the MSI P65 but with slimmed down specification.

You get a beasty 6-core Intel Core i7-8750H processor paired with a no-slouch Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB DDR5 graphics card, along with 16GB DDR4 2400 MHz RAM and steadfast 256GB NVMe SSD for a price just under $1800.

Additionally, you get the same larger 15.6” Full HD 144 Hz Screen packed in a body size of 14” that has very thin 4.9mm bezels collectively offering a screen-to-body ratio of 82%, which is currently unrivaled for a gaming laptop.

On the design front, there aren’t any complaints from my side. MSI brought a completely new design which looks cool and subtle at the same time. None of your friends would notice it to be a gaming laptop unless they either open the lid or look up the specifications.

MSI has gone with a modest matte black color for the entire laptop with Golden borders and inserts wherever it can. It’s not entirely built out of metal, but it has metal panels that give it a solid feel when you hold it. Surprisingly it weighs only 4.14 pounds, which is again unheard for gaming laptops too.

Speakers on the MSI GS65 Stealth are quite loud compared to all the other laptops in our list; however, the sound quality is marred by awkward positioning of the speakers that leaves a lot be desired. Webcam on this laptop too is decent and much better compared to Gigabyte Aero 15X

What you’ll love about this laptop is the keyboard. It is provided by SteelSeries and offers per-key RGB lighting and option to lighting up keys only when they’re pressed. This looks cool aesthetically and also saves up on battery life.

Though I must tell you that since the footprint of this laptop is small, the spacing between the keys in less. Hence initially you might be accidentally making the wrong keystrokes.

Battery life is excellent too, and you should expect around 6-7 hours of juice with moderate use.

Now if you’re a complete budget head and need a laptop that is more than capable enough of playing Overwatch, yet comes at an extreme budget point; then you ought to take a look at the Asus ROG Strix Hero Edition.

For better or worst; the ROG Strix Hero Edition isn’t as fancy or featured packed as compared to other laptops in our list. However, the fact that it comes with the right basics for gaming is what matters.

For starters, the laptop comes with 120Hz display; which compared to other laptops in our list is an added advantage, and as a matter of fact; this laptop costs just over $1000.

It comes from Asus’ Republic of Gamers sub-brand, which makes it a legit gaming laptop that comes with ideal gaming laptop features.

On the top lid it features a dual tone graphics with large and backlit ROG logo on the left side of lid, which gives it a premium look, even though it’s offered as a budget laptop.

Once you open the lid, you are greeted with a 15.6” Full HD display with 120Hz of refresh rate.

What may put off some people are the large bezels around the corners; after seeing few other laptops in our list with extremely slim and barely-there bezels.

Another thing that immediately grabs your attention (when you open the laptop) is the 4-zone RGB lighting keyboard. Now this seems cool but could be a problem to people who’ve seen per key RGB lighting in other keyboards in our list.

However, the part where this laptop really shines is what’s on the inside.

Internally it hosts a powerful Intel Core i7-8750H CPU that is coupled with seemingly powerful Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti Mobile GPU that offers around 80-100 FPS while playing Overwatch at Ultra Settings.

Other than that it features 16GB DDR4 RAM, 128GB SSD and 1TB of Hybrid HDD.

If you seriously want to play Overwatch; but have a shoestring budget. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

At just under $700, the Asus TUF FX504 is one of the best gaming laptop for Overwatch meant for people who are on a tight budget.

Obviously, for such a low price, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles mentioned in the above 8 laptops in our list, but it still can play Overwatch at Ultra Settings and offer frame rates of around 50-60fps, which is relatively decent for a gaming laptop that costs under $700.

For the price, you get a combination of reasonably powerful Intel Core i5-8300H CPU and Nvidia GTX 1050 Mobile GPU that is decent enough to play modern video game titles between 40-50 FPS at 1080p between Max and Ultra Settings.

Build entirely out of plastic, Asus has managed to keep the weight tucked in at 5.07 lbs, while the laptop has thickness of 1” on its side. On the connectivity front, it features an Ethernet port, USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0 and HDMI port. It also contains Wave 2 Gigabit Wifi that supports speed of up to 1.73Gbps.

Additionally, you get a faster 8GB DDR4 2666 MHz RAM along with 1TB SSHD also known as Hybrid drive that contains both the module of a mechanical hard drive and a low capacity Solid State Drive that offers boosts in speed when required. Click this link if you want to know more about what Hybrid Drives are?

Asus has also integrated a two fan cooling system with Hypercool and anti-dust technology that prevents the laptop from overheating during intensive gaming sessions. You also get a full-sized keyboard with numpad and regular sized arrow keys as well.

However, all these excellent features are marred by a poor TN display that offers Full HD resolution but loses color accuracy when the screen is tilted upwards and downwards; hence you need to place the screen at the right angle to enjoy proper color combination.

Asus has now updated this laptop with an IPS display; with no extra cost to you. This makes the Asus TUF FX504 one of the best cheap laptops that can run Overwatch with beautiful visuals.

Conclusion

There are many gaming laptops available at different point; however, since you want only the best laptop for Overwatch, then these 7 laptops offer the best bang for your buck.

To conclude this post, if you need a powerful and extremely lightweight gaming laptop that will, you can take to your business meetings then get either the Gigabyte Aero 15X or the MSI P65 Creator.

In case you need a laptop as powerful as Gigabyte’s Aero 15X but don’t want to cross over the $2000 mark, then the MSI GS65 Stealth is the perfect choice.

If you’re a college student and budget is around $1000, then you could either part with HP Pavilion 15-CX0045NR or the extremely powerful Acer Helios Predator 300.

Otherwise, if you’re on extreme budget constraint, then the Asus TUF FX504 is the best gaming laptop that can run Overwatch.

If you’ve reached this far then, I would like to assume that you’ve loved this article and would find your own best laptop for Overwatch from this list, if not, then please do shoot me a comment below and I will try to answer your questions as quick as possible.